My journey with Nina Simone, began after I listened to the first record I bought by her in 1960; that's still my favorite record by her.
While everyone else was most impressed by her singing, I was most impressed by her piano playing. She's a gifted piano player, and I'm a gifted piano listener; I knew I was hearing something different when I first heard her piano; a natural blend of classics, gospel, and jazz that can never be duplicated.
I only saw Nina live once, that was in a huge auditorium in Chicago. Our seats were the highest I had ever been inside a building, I almost got airsick looking at the tiny people at ground floor level. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the perspective; they had the worst storm ever in Chicago, and many people who had good seats in front of the stage didn't show. Not wanting those seats to go to waste, we went down and occupied them.
This was a show with Nina, Herbie Mann, and Miles Davis; Miles was first, and he was on when we were sky high, but when it came time for Nina, we were front and center. I hope everyone gets a chance to see their favorite artist up close and personal, there's nothing like it; these people would not be famous if they did not project an "Aura" of greatness, and you experience it when you're up close and personal. I'll call that time "The Aura of Nina".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWaOT7Rvc0 
